February 28, 2011

Las Vegas, NV. February 17, 2011 - The National Center of American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is pleased to announce the recipients of its most prestigious awards honoring those who have demonstrated leadership, dedication, entrepreneurship, innovation, commitment, and success in areas of Indian economic and business development. The outstanding achievements of these individuals, organizations, and communities will be acknowledged at the 25th Annual Reservation Economic Summit & American Indian Business Trade Fair (RES2011) slated for March 14-17 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

David Melton, Principle Owner of Sacred Power Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will be presented with the American Indian Business Owner of the Year Award. Sacred Power is a profitable business owned and operated by American Indians, which has demonstrated excellent corporate citizenship to its surrounding community and has set a precedent for fostering the creation of sound American Indian businesses through the support of community programming and projects. As further testament of the continued success Sacred Power has attained, the corporation featured a commercial broadcasted to over 500,000 households during the National Football Championship held in Dallas, Texas.

Chairman Brian Cladoosby of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will be presented with the American Indian Tribal Leadership Award. Each year this award is given to outstanding leadership in support of American Indianbusiness and economic development endeavors in Tribal communities.

Clara Pratte, a member of the Navajo Nation, will receive the Tim Wapato Public Advocate Award in recognition of her unwavering commitment and dedication to American Indian communities and businesses. Clara currently serves as the National Director of the Office of Native American Affairs at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Her office works to ensure American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians full access to crucial business development expansion tools in order to create, develop, and expand small businesses in Native communities.

NCAIED will present Executive Director of the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association (GPIGA), Kurt Luger with the Tribal Gaming Visionary & Small Business Empowerment Award in recognition of GPIGA’s demonstration of innovation and exemplary support for American Indian owned businesses in aneffort to create sound economies for tribal nations and the communities in which Indian Gaming is a driving force in growing infrastructure

U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) will be presented with the Congressional Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to the success of NCAIED and to the American Indian communities served by NCAIED. The award will be given to Senator Baucus during the Opening General Session of RES2011 on Tuesday, March 16.

The Weeminuche Construction Authority of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe will receive the Tribal Enterprise of the Year Award. Thisannual award is given to a profitable business owned and operated by American Indians who demonstrate a dedication to local communities through generosity and community involvement. The award will be presented to Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Chairman Gary Hayes.

The NANA Development Corporation located in Anchorage, Alaska will be the recipient of the Corporate Advocate of the Year for its unwavering support of goals of NANA stakeholders through the promotion of business development and investment in the future of Alaskan Natives. This year marks the first time in the history of the Reservation Economic Summit a Native corporation is the recipient of the Corporate Advocate of the Year.

NCAIED will present Kathy Meyer of Meyer Contracting with the National Native American Woman Owned Business Award. Meyer Contracting will receive the award in recognition of the company’s exemplary dedication to thedevelopment of economic and community well being through support of tribal communities and the creation of economic infrastructure.

The Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) will receive the Youth Entrepreneurship Award. This year, NAFOA was chosen for the Youth Entrepreneurship Award for its continued efforts in creating business-oriented Native youth programming through its annual LEAD Summer Business Institute. NAFOA Chairman Bill Lomax will be present to accept theaward on behalf of the LEAD program.

Each year the Volunteer of the Year Award is given to a person who demonstrates exemplary selflessness and dedication to the programs and goals of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development through active participation and commitment in events hosted by NCAIED. This year the award will be presented to Karen Jensen who resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Karen has been a volunteer for RES over the last five years.

Known as the largest and longest running national American Indian business event in the nation, The Reservation Economic Summit & American Indian Business Trade Fair (RES2011) is the premier gathering of American Indian and Indigenous entrepreneurs, tribal entrepreneurs, tribal representatives, corporations, and government agencies. This year, over 3,000 attendees and 400 trade fair exhibitors representing tribes, Indian businesses, government agencies, and corporations from across the nation will attend RES2011. This summit will provide connections with industry leaders as well as business opportunities for Tribes, Native business and government contracting. Celebrating 25 years strong, RES2011 will be held March 14 - 17, 2011 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, NV.